THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP has announced its arrival in the electoral scene in Kerala by winning one seat and finishing second in seven seats. The party, which had 6.03 percent vote share in the 2011 Assembly elections, has increased it to 15 percent. Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP state president, said that the party had increased the vote share by nine percent and polled 20 lakh votes.
The BJP, which was formed in the 80s, has reasons to cheer with O. Rajagopal winning the Nemom seat and giving a stiff fight in many other constituencies. BJP general secretary K. Surendran was pushed to the second position by 89 votes by Muslim League’s Abdul Razak in Manjeshwaram. C. Krishnakumar, BJP, came second after V.S. Achuthanandan in Malampuzha who led by a margin of 27, 142 votes.
In Palakkad, BJP general secretary Sobha Surendran came second after Congress candidate Shafi Parambil who won with a margin of 17, 483 votes. Kummanam came second in Vattiyoorkavu behind K. Muraleedharan who had a lead of 7, 622 votes.
Former BJP state president V. Muraleedharan came second behind CPM’s Kadakampally Surendran in Kazhakoottam who won by 7, 347 votes. In Chathannur, B. B. Gopakumar trailed behind CPI’s G.S. Jayalal by 34, 407 votes.
In Kasaragod, Muslim League’s N. A. Nellikunnu spoiled the chances of Ravisha Thantri Kuntar by 8,607 votes. Kummanam said the LDF could gain only 890, 000 votes more than in the last Assembly polls. The NDA had gained more than 12 lakh votes compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
